Staked aluminum shelves



y 4, 1967 c. A. BALL STAKED ALUMINUM SHELVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1965 A. BALL INVENTOK CHARLES ATTORNEY July 4, 1967 c. A. BALL 3,329,281

I STAKED ALUMINUM SHELVES Filed Aug. 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet so 12 48 20 3s 0 Li I I T's I L 5 I 50 22 x55 INVENTOR CHARLES A.BALL

ATTORNEY July 4,1967 QABALL 3,329,281

STAKED ALUMINUM SHELVES Filed Aug. 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet CHARLES ABALL Arrows) United States Patent 3,329,281 STAKED ALUMINUM SHELVES Charles A. Ball, 3410 Lalreshore Blvd. W-, Toronto 3, Ontario, Canada Filed Aug. 12, 1965, S91. No. 479,067 8 Claims. (Cl. 211--153) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A metallic shelf structure with a rectangular bar frame made of flat stock having spaced grid wires staked to the frame. The ends of the grid wires can extend beyond the frame. A trim plate is held onto the frame member by some form of fastening means or clip means to cover the staked ends of the grid Wires. The trim plates used have different structures, each with a recess in its front wall to receive the staked ends of the grid wires and a flange by which the trim plate is secured on the frame.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improve ments in staked shelves and more particularly to shelves of this kind for domestic refrigerators and the like. It may, however, be well adapted for other uses and appliances and hence it is not intended that the invention be restricted as to utility but rather exemplified in a selected application.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a very sturdy and serviceable shelf for refrigerators and the like and one which will stand a great deal of wear and tear irrespective of the load conditions to which it may be subjected. In particular, the invention concerns an aluminum alloy type of shelf which is popular equipment in refrigerators. Conventional shelves of this kind for domestic refrigerators leave much to be desired with regard to their strength and serviceability. Hence, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a more acceptable shelf of the kind referred to and one which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of my invention is to produce a highly attractive appliance shelf and one which permits two-tone anodized colours on trim and grid assembly, and moreover enables a trim and grid assembly to be finished separately in an economical manufacturing process.

A distinctive feature of the construction is that it lends itself to automatic fabrication and assembly whereby a low unit cost is attained.

The invention is applicable to structures of stationary and movable appliance shelves as is more clearly brought out in the ensuing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. Now referring to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an appliance shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention and having front and rear trim;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the shelf;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the shelf in perspective;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the joint portion of the frame showing how the one-piece frame bar has its end parts joined together, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan View of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail on an enlarged scale taken on line 7-7 of FIG. I and showing how the cross bar is attached to a side portion of the rectangular frame;

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail of the front trim assembly taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 1 and enlarged as to scale;

FIG. 9 is a similar sectional detail of the rear trim as sembly taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 1 and enlarged as to scale;

3,329,281 Patented July 4, 1967 FIG. 10 depicts a somewhat modified form of trim assembly;

FIG. l'l illustrates a further modification of the trim assembly in which the trim is attached by a spring clip;

FIG. 12 is a cross section on line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a detail in perspective of the spring clip;

FIG. 14 is a perspective fragmentary view of the shelf structure illustrating a further modification of the trim; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional detail taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

Now referring to the drawings in detail, the shelf structure comprises a generally rectangular frame 18 made of an aluminum extrusion bar of a fiat cross section which is vertically arranged and having an upper edge face 20 and a lower edge face 22. Said frame provides side members 24, 24, a front member 26 and a rear member 28. The end parts 30 and 32. of the frame bar are preferably located at the front of the frame and are permanently joined in a suitable manner.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, and 4-6, this is accomplished in the present instance by a joint of the splice type in which the end portion 30 is provided with an offset extension element 34 which extends alongside of the end portion 32 and is joined thereto by fastening means such as the rivets 36. It will be noted that extension element 34 is of a less depth than the end parts 30 and 32 so that its upper edge face 38 is spaced Well below the top edge face 20 of the attached end portion 32. Accordingly the extension element 34 is well clear of the grid wires 40 and therefore does not interfere therewith.

The frame 18 is stiffened by a cross bar 42 which extends between the side members 24, 24, and is secured thereto. The cross bar is made of the same stock as the rectangular frame and receives the grid wires 40 which are also of an aluminum alloy material. The ends of the cross bar are secured to the sides of the frame 24 by suitable means which in the present instance comprises an integral lug 44 fashioned on each end of the cross bar and received in a rectangular aperture provided in the corresponding side member 24, the end of the lug being well peaned or securely staked to effect the attachment. While only one such cross bar is shown it is to be understood that a plurality could be provided and would be desirable particularly in the case of a shelf of a large size for instance.

The grid wires 40 are arranged in spaced relation and extend from front member 26 to the rear member 28 of the rectangular frame and are received in slots 46 provided in the members 26 and 28 and also in the cross bar 42. The slots 46 are open to the upper edges of these members and are of a slightly less depth than the diameter of the grid wires. The grid wires are secured in the slots as by staking, indicated at 48, the slots 46 may be cut in the respective members of the frame as by a one-pass milling machine operation in order that the corresponding slots or notches will be in proper alignment. On the other hand, the slots 46 for the grid wires could be die cut either before or after forming the rectangular frame.

The staking can be carried out as a press operation or it can be performed on a staking machine having a progressive index. The grid wires can be assembled on the rectangular frame automatically as by a hopper feed apparatus or, on the other hand, they may be manually as.

sembled depending on the made up.

This construction of a shelf serviceability, moreover, to manufacture.

A distinctive feature is that the trim applied to the shelf is devised to have a functional aspect as well as being decorative. As shown in FIGS. l-9 the trim comquantity of the shelves to be provides for sturdiness and the construction is economical 3 prises a front plate 50 and a rear plate 52. These trim plates are desirably made of extruded aluminum alloy.

The front trim plate 50 is shown as having an attachment flange 54 which is secured against the outer face of the front frame member 26 as by rivets 56. It will, of course, be understood that other fastening means might be resorted to such as screw fasteners or welding. The flange depends from an inwardly facing and longitudinally extending channel element 58 which provides a recess 60 into which protrudes the adjacent extremities of the grid wires 40. The top wall 62 of the channel element overlies the adjacent end portions of the grid wires in close proximity thereto. In this way the top wall 62 shields the adjacent ends of the grid wires and serves to protect them against being loosened by being struck with an object and also serves to enhance the appearance of the shelf. This front trim plate is integrated with a handle portion 64 as customarily applied to refrigerator shelves of the slidable type.

The rear trim plate 52 is similar in construction in that it has a horizontally extending channel member 66 providing a recess 68 which accommodates the extremities of the adjacent grid wires and has a depending flange 70 shown as riveted as at 72 but which likewise may be otherwise attached to the outer face of the rear frame member 28 if so desired. This rear trim plate is embellished by an upstanding wall part 74. This decorative element could be otherwise shaped if so desired or it may be omitted according to dictates of manufacture.

It may be here remarked that where a two-tone colour is desired the grid assembly and the trim plates may be anodized separately in colour before assembly. Insofar as the shelf proper is concerned this is finished in the usual way and is anodized either clear or coloured. Such finishes are well known in the art and therefore it is not necessary to dwell on them.

Now with particular reference to the trim plates 50 and 52 it will be noted that the recess 68 in the latter is made of a somewhat greater depth than the recess 60. In cutting the grid wires to length it is to be expected that there will be a slight variation in the cut off lengths and that there may be attendant burrs. By lining up the front ends of the grid wires in securing them in place in the assembly of the shelf any discrepancy in length and attendant burrs will be accommodated by the greater depth of the recess 68. The overlying top wall of the respective recesses conceals the staking and presents a clean, smooth appearance to the upper side of the shelf. The perimeter frame bar lends itself to the mounting of sliding hardware or cantilever hardware when the same is required.

In the modification shown in FIG. 10, the only difference is that a variant form of trim plate is shown. The trim plate, generally denoted at 76, comprises a vertical front member 78 having a top member 80 inwardly directed and overlying the staked adjacent ends of the grid bars which conceals the staking and presents a clean, smooth appearance. A bottom member 82 also extends inwardly and is provided with an upturned attachment flange 84 which is secured against the inner face of the front frame member 26 as by rivets 86 or other fastening means. This trim plate may be an extruded metal member of an aluminum alloy or, on the other hand, it may be of a pressed steel plate with a chrome or other plated finish. Moreover, it may be used at both the front and rear of the shelf.

A further modification illustrated in FIGS. 7, 12 and 13 also concerns the trim. In this variant form of trim, generally denoted at 88, it comprises a front wall 90 having at its lower end a U-shaped element 92 which is upturned and receives the lower edge portion of the front frame bar member 26. The upper part of the front wall is outwardly offset as at 94 to provide a recess 96 which accommodates the projecting extremities of the grid wires 40. The top portion of the front Wall is continued into a horizontal top wall which extends inwardly to overlie the adjacent ends of the grid wires and has its distal end inturned to provide a groove 97.

Fastening means is supplied to secure this trim plate in assembly. Preferably the fastening means comprises a clip 98 detailed in FIG. 13. The clip is a wire-formed member having an intermediate forwardly-projecting loop part 100 which fits between two adjacent grid rods and seats on the upper edge of the front frame member 26. Divergent arms 101 are offset to extend below adjacent grid wires and terminate in rearwardly and upwardly offset fingers 102 which engage in the groove 97 and thereby detachably secure the trim plate in its assembly on the shelf proper. The clip is made of springy wire of a light gauge and can be sprung readily out of its locked position in order to remove the trim plate.

In the final modification shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 there is a further variant form of trim plate. This comprises press metal member generally denoted at 104 having a front wall 106 which has an intermediate inwardly offset part 108 engaged with the outer face of the front wall member 26. The lower edge portion of the trim plate extends inwardly and upwardly to form a U-shaped bottom part 110 which receives and fits on the lower edge portion of the frame member 26. The upper edge portion of the front wall 106 has a continuing top wall 111 which extends inwardly to overlie the staked ends of the grid wires thereby presenting a smooth clean finish and also concealing the staking.

To fasten this trim plate to the shelf proper there is provided bendable lugs 112 integral with the inner edge portion of the top wall 111 which lugs are co-planar with the top wall 111 in the manufacture of the trim and in the assembly are bent downwardly at the inner face of the front frame member 26 between adjacent grid wires as best shown in FIG. 14. This grid plate may have any desirable finish according to dictates of manufacture. It is economical to manufacture and is easy to assemble.

From the preceding disclosure it will be manifest that my invention provides a sturdy shelf structure having a highly attractive appearance and one which is inexpensive to manufacture. It is particularly suitable for domestic refrigerators. Moreover, incidental changes and modifications may be resorted to as coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shelf for a refrigerator or other appliance comprising: a substantially rectangular metal-bar frame of narrow flat stock vertically arranged with its top and bottom edge faces horizontally disposed; said frame including a front member, a rear member and side members; each member having an inner and an outer face, said front and rear members provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots at said top faces thereof and open thereto, the slots of one said member being aligned with those of the other said member, grid Wires extending between said front and rear members and having ends seated in said slots respectively, said grid wires having their termini projecting slightly beyond the said front and rear members, said front and rear members being staked to secure the grid wires thereto, trim means covering the staked ends of said grid wires, means adapted to hold said trim means in place, said trim means including a trim plate having a longitudinally extending recess receiving the adjacent projecting termini of the grid Wires and an attachment flange depending from the recessed portion of said trim plate, and wherein the recess is formed by a channel-shaped member from which said attachment flange depends.

2. The shelf of claim 1, wherein the trim means is provided on the front and rear members of the bar frame at the respective outer faces thereof, and wherein said trim means on each of the front and rear members comprises a vertical wall in which said recess is formed, and a top wall .element overlying the adjacent staked ends of the grid wires.

3. A shelf for a refrigerator or other appliance comprising: a substantially rectangular metal-bar frame of narrow flat stock vertically arranged with its top and bottom edge faces horizontally disposed; said frame including a front member, a rear member and side members; each member having an inner and an outer face, said front and rear members provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots at said top faces thereof and open thereto, the slots of one said member being aligned with those of the other said member, grid wires extending between said front and rear members and having ends seated in said slots respectively, said grid wires having their termini projecting slightly beyond the said front and rear members, said front and rear members being staked to secure the grid wires thereto, trim means covering the staked ends of said grid wires, means adapted to hold said trim means in place, said trim means including a trim plate having a front wall, a top wall overlying the adjacent staked ends of the grid wires, and a lower part of a U- shaped cross section providing an upturned wall element disposed at the rear of the respective frame member.

4. A shelf for a refrigerator or other appliance comprising: a substantially rectangular metal-bar frame of narrow fiat stock vertically arranged with its top and bottom edge faces horizontally disposed; said frame including a front member, a rear member and side members; said front and rear members provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots at said top faces thereof and open thereto, the slots of one said member being aligned with those of the other said member, grid wires extending between said front and rear members and having ends seated in said slots respectively, said grid wires having their termini projecting slightly beyond the said front and rear members, said front and rear members being staked to secure the grid wires thereto, trim means covering the staked ends of said grid wires, said trim means including a trim plate having a front wall vertically disposed against the outer face of the respective bar frame member and having a top wall member, said front wall having a lower return bent end having a hook-on connection with the lower part of said bar frame member, said front wall also having an outward offset at its upper end providing a recess to accommodate projecting termini of said grid wires; said top wall member extending horizontally over adjacent ends of said grid wires and downwardly return bent at the distal edge portion to provide a groove; and a clip means engaged in said groove and detachably securing said trim plate in assembly on the bar frame member.

5. The shelf of claim 4, wherein said clip is a spring wire member having arms sprung in said groove.

6. The shelf of claim 4, wherein said clip is a spring wire member having a centre lug disposed in seating relation on the bar frame member between two adjacent grid wires, and having arms diverging from said lug subjacent said two adjacent grid wires and terminally engaged in said groove.

7. A shelf for a refrigerator or other appliance comprising: a substantially rectangular metal-bar frame of narrow flat stock vertically arranged with its top and bottom edge faces horizontally disposed; said frame including a front member, a rear member and side members; said front and rear members provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots at said top faces thereof and open thereto, the slots of one said member being aligned with those of the other said member, grid wires extending between said front and rear members and having ends seated in said slots respectively, said grid wires having their termini projecting slightly beyond the said front and rear members, said front and rear members being staked to secure the grid wires thereto, trim means covering the staked ends of said grid wires, said trim means including a trim plate having a front wall vertically disposed against the outer face of the respective bar frame member, and also having a top wall member; said front wall provided with a lower return bent end having a hook-on connection with the lower part of said bar frame member, said front wall also having an outward offset at its upper end providing a recess to accommodate projecting termini of said grid; and said top wall member disposed to overlie the adjacent staked ends of the grid wires and having fingers at its distal edge portion which are bent downwardly at the inner face of said frame bar member to secure the assembly in place.

8. A shelf for a refrigerator or other appliance comprising: a substantially rectangular metal-bar frame of narrow fiat stock vertically arranged with its top and bottom edge faces horizontally disposed; said frame including a front member, a rear member and side members; said front and rear members provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots at said top faces thereof and open thereto, the slots of one said member being aligned with those of the other said member, grid wires extending between said front and rear members and having ends seated in said slots respectively, said grid wires having their termini projecting slightly beyond the said front and rear members, said front and rear members being staked to secure the grid wires thereto, trim means covering the staked ends of said grid wires, said trim means including at least one trim plate having a front wall vertically disposed against the outer face of the front frame member and having a top wall member, said front wall having a lower return bent end having a hook-on connection with the lower part of said front frame member, said front wall also having an outward offset at its upper end providing a recess to accommodate projecting termini of said grid wires; said top wall member extending horizontally over adjacent ends of said grid wires and downwardly return bent at the distal edge portion to provide a groove; and a clip means engaged in said groove and detachably securing said trim plate in assembly on the front frame member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,577,267 3/ 1926 Spaulding et al 108-161 1,832,518 11/1931 Wettlaufer 2l1153 2,109,052 2/ 1938 Schweller 211-153 3,037,267 6/1962 Kimball et a1 29--160 3,133,644 5/1964 DOlive et al 2l1153 3,185,315 5/1965 Andreassen 211-153 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. CLAUDE A. LEROY, Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SHELF FOR A REFRIGERATOR OR OTHER APPLIANCE COMPRISING: A SUSBTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR METAL-BAR FRAME OF NARROW FLAT STOCK VERTICALLY ARRANGED WITH ITS TOP AND BOTTOM EDGE FACES HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED; SAID FRAME INCLUDING A FRONT MEMBER, A REAR MEMBER AND SIDE MEMBERS; EACH MEMBER HAVING AN INNER AND AN OUTER FACE SAID FRONT AND REAR MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH A SERIES OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SLOTS AT SAID TOP FACES THEREOF AND OPEN THERETO, THE SLOTS OF ONE SAID MEMBER BEING ALIGNED WITH THOSE OF THE OTHER SAID MEMBER, GRID WIRES EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND REAR MEMBERS AND HAVING ENDS SEATED IN SAID SLOTS RESPECTIVELY, SAID GRID WIRES HAVING THEIR TERMINI PROJECTING SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE SAID FRONT AND REAR MEMBERS, SAID FRONT AND REAR MEMBERS BEING STAKED TO SECURE THE GRID WIRES THERETO, TRIM MEANS COVERING THE STAKED ENDS OF SAID GRID WIRES, MEANS ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID TRIM MEANS IN PLACE, SAID TRIM MEANS INCLUDING A TRIM PLATE HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RECESS RECEIVING THE ADJACENT PROJECTING TERMINI OF THE GRID WIRES AND AN ATTACHMENT FLANGE DEPENDING FROM THE RECESSED PORTION OF SAID TRIM PLATE, AND WHEREIN THE RECESS IS FORMED BY A CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBER FROM WHICH SAID ATTACHMENT FLANGE DEPENDS. 